Hans Heinrich XV, 3rd Prince of Pless, Count of Hochberg

Hans Heinrich XV, 3rd Prince of Pless, Count of Hochberg a adăugat o fotografie

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Hans

Hans Heinrich XV von Hochberg (Polish: Jan Henryk XV; 23 April 1861 – 31 January 1938) was Prince of Pless (Pszczyna), Count of Hochberg and Baron of Fürstenstein (Książ). He was the husband (1891–1923) of Mary Theresa Olivia Hochberg von Pless, also known as Princess Daisy. A member of one of the wealthiest European noble families, he was the owner of large estates and coal mines in Silesia (Poland) which brought him enormous fortune and his extravagant lifestyle coupled with political and family scandals were reported on by the international press. The historical drama Magnat (1987) was based on the life of Hans Heinrich and his naturalized-Polish son Alexander between both World Wars. The film featured stars of Polish cinema.

Hans Heinrich XV, 3rd Prince of Pless, Count of Hochberg a adăugat o fotografie

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Hans

Early life He was born on 23 April 1861, in Pless, now known as Pszczyna in Poland. He was the son of Hans Heinrich XI and Marie von Kleist. In 1879 he graduated from the exclusive St. Mary Magdalene high school in Breslau. He then studied economics at the universities of Berlin, Geneva and Bonn. Later the studies prepared him to manage the wealth of the Hochberg family in Silesia. At the age of 22 Hans Heinrich XV, the son of a duke (Herzog von Pless) received from Emperor Wilhelm I a lower princely title and officially became the Fürst von Pless (Prince of Pless). In the years 1881–1882 he served in the German Imperial Army, first as a volunteer in the Royal Hussar regiment and later the Guard Hussars. After two years he left the army as a lieutenant. Between 1882 and 1885 he participated in a long, eventful hunting trip around the world and visited, among others, India and North America. After his return, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin, Germany. There he met and became friends with the young heir to the throne William Hohenzollern (later Emperor Wilhelm II). In 1886, Hans Heinrich XV…Citește mai mult

Hans Heinrich XV, 3rd Prince of Pless, Count of Hochberg a adăugat o fotografie

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R.I.P
Hans

Career and first marriage In 1890, Hans Heinrich XV was awarded the position of secretary at the German embassy in London. There he met and proposed to the younger Mary Theresa Olivia Cornwallis-West called Daisy, a daughter of Col. William Cornwallis-West. Since the Cornwallis-West family was impoverished, the Hochbergs were forced to pay and organise the wedding. The wedding ceremony took place at St. Margaret's in Westminster on 8 December 1891. Notable witnesses were Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and his wife Princess Alexandra, while Queen Victoria personally gave the couple her blessing. They began their married life by traveling throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and America. As a wedding gift from Hans Heinrich XI, the senior head of the house, the young couple received Schloss Fürstenstein near Waldenburg, where they hosted the finest European aristocracy throughout their entire marriage. The couple had four children: Daughter (25 February 1893 – 11 March 1893). Hans Heinrich XVII William Albert Edward (2 February 1900 – 26 January 1984), 4th Prince of Pless, Count von Hochberg and Baron of Fürstenstein. Married twice but had no issue. Alexander Frederick William George Conrad Ernest Maximilian (1 February 1905 – 22 February 1984), 5th…Citește mai mult

Hans Heinrich XV, 3rd Prince of Pless, Count of Hochberg a adăugat o fotografie

acum 8 zile

R.I.P
Hans

Prince of Pless and second marriage After his father's death in 1907, Hans Heinrich XV became the Prince of Pless and the owner of the largest estates in the German Empire – In Pless (Pszczyna) (approx. 40 thousand hectares of land, 6 coal mines, a brewery in Tychy and others) and in Waldenburg (Wałbrzych) (approx. 10 thousand hectares and 3 coal mines). These assets systematically decreased due to debt caused by the profligate lifestyle of the family and huge architectural investments (including the reconstruction of the Książ Castle). However between 1914 and 1924 he made many industrial investments in the Upper and Lower Silesia (expansion of mines). He financially supported the German nationalist organisations (e.g. Deutscher Flottenverein), however, opposed the activities Ostmarkenverein in his Upper Silesian estates. During World War I he was promoted to the rank of a colonel and served as an officer. In the years 1915–1917 he lent his castle in Pless to the German Army. After the war all of his estates in Pless became Polish and the city was renamed to Pszczyna. In 1922 he received Polish citizenship. In order to win the favour of the Polish authorities he often relied on his Piast roots…Citește mai mult

Hans Heinrich XV, 3rd Prince of Pless, Count of Hochberg a adăugat o fotografie

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R.I.P
Hans

Upper Silesian Independence After World War I, he was the first to propose the idea of Upper Silesian independence. Consequently, he financially and diplomatically supported the Union of Upper Silesians (referred to in Polish historiography as separatist) the Union of Upper Silesians opposed the Polish national movement. He also diplomatically attempted to force independence for all of Silesia, ensuring that both Pless and Książ were included in the proposed Silesian State, It was proposed to do a referendum to crown him as a Duke of Upper Silesia if it was to become independent. He likely voted for Germany during the plebiscite. During the Third Uprising, he personally recruited and equipped a company of volunteers, who, under the command of his son, Hans Heinrich XVII, joined the Selbstschutz Oberschlesien (Self-Defense of Upper Silesia), including during the latter's victorious Battle of Annaberg.

Hans Heinrich XV, 3rd Prince of Pless, Count of Hochberg a lăsat un gând

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Last years He died of a heart attack on 31 January 1938 in the Ritz Hotel in Paris and was buried in Pszczyna. During World War II his surviving sons both fought against the Nazis, Hans Heinrich XVII as John Henry Pless in the British RAF and Alexander Hochberg under the name of Aleksander Pszczyński as the shooter in the Polish Army under the command of General Władysław Anders.

Hans Heinrich XV, 3rd Prince of Pless, Count of Hochberg a lăsat un gând

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Film adaptations Magnat (1987) – Hans Heinrich XV portrayed by Polish actor Jan Nowicki.

Hans Heinrich XV, 3rd Prince of Pless, Count of Hochberg a lăsat un gând

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Kingdom of Prussia: Order of Saint John, Knight of Justice Order of the Red Eagle, Grand Cross, 11 February 1917 Order of the Crown, 1st Class, 4 December 1911 Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Commander's Cross with Swords, 23 March 1918 Princely House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross with Swords, 22 March 1915

Hans Heinrich XV, 3rd Prince of Pless, Count of Hochberg a lăsat un gând

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Grand Duchy of Hesse: Order of Philip the Magnanimous, Grand Cross, 1 October 1898

Hans Heinrich XV, 3rd Prince of Pless, Count of Hochberg a lăsat un gând

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Kingdom of Württemberg: Order of the Crown, Knight Cross with Swords

Hans Heinrich XV, 3rd Prince of Pless, Count of Hochberg a lăsat un gând

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Austro-Hungarian Empire: Order of the Iron Crown, 1st Class

Hans Heinrich XV, 3rd Prince of Pless, Count of Hochberg a lăsat un gând

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Kingdom of Bulgaria: Order of Saint Alexander, 1st Class with Swords